Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

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Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

showing off sanctuary merchandise

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Every once in a while supporters send us photos of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest merchandise that they’ve purchased. I love seeing the chimps represented in people’s private homes or office spaces (or, in the case of clothing, on people). Here are a couple of recent images that we’ve received.

Here’s a 2013 calendar in the kitchen of the Edwards all the way in the UK! The calendar was a surprise gift and actually served as an introduction to the sanctuary for both the gifter and the giftee. (In case you’re wondering, we do still have a few 2013 calendars left, so get yours before they’re all gone).

Edwards' CSNW 2013 calendar

And this is from a little while ago, but one of my favorite images because supporter Debbie C. personalized what she purchased. She had one of Jamie’s art prints framed, alongside a photo of Jamie and her artist’s bio that came with the art print. It makes me so happy to think of Debbie seeing Jamie everyday like this.

Jamie print framed

Deep snow

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You may have noticed a lack of Young’s Hill photos and videos over the last month or so. That’s because when the snow gets so deep, it reduces the voltage of the electric fence, making it unsafe to allow the chimpanzees out there. Well, yesterday, J.B., Sarah and I (mostly J.B.) all went out and shoveled around the entire perimeter of the fence (who needs a gym membership?), freeing up those bottom wires covered in snow so that the voltage was sufficient to let the chimps back out! It was very hard work, but the chimps were so excited that it was well worth it! There were lots of hugs and kisses in the chimp house (between the chimps 😉 ) and breathy pants echoed in the greenhouse. Sometimes our job isn’t glamorous but it is certainly rewarding, especially when you see a face like the one below (Jody’s).

Jody was the first one to go back out. She was food grunting (we had lettuce out there, plus look at all that snow!) and had a huge playface!
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Annie used Jody’s head for support as she passed her on the log bridge. Jody didn’t seem to mind.
web Jody playface dropped lip happy first day back on YH after snow Annie arm on head pass on log bridge IMG_2196

Look at the joy in her eyes!
web Jody playface dropped lip happy first day back on YH after snow IMG_2197

The snow was really deep, so J.B. and Diana shoveled paths along the log bridge to the first climbing structure and to Negra’s cabin. Most folks just walked along the paths, but Missy chose to walk on the fire hose.
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From left to right, Jamie, Missy, Annie and Jody, enjoying the lettuce forage on top of the first climbing structure.
web Jamie Missy Annie Jody sit on climbing structure eat lettuce forage snow YH IMG_2211

Did I mention the snow was (is) deep? Foxie walked along the paths but she looked so tiny from our vantage point (tinier than she already is, even!).
web Foxie walk through deep snow shoveled path YH IMG_2212

Annie figured walking bipedally made more sense. Gotta say, I agree!
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While everyone else foraged for lettuce, Annie climbed up to the top of Negra’s cabin a couple of times.
web Annie sit on top of negra's cabin snow YH IMG_2217

And Missy discovered a TON of lettuce Sarah put in the cabin!
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I think she was pretty pleased!
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web Missy handful lettuce walk on log snow YH IMG_2226

All of the chimps went out at some point, though Negra didn’t leave the comfort of the raceway (and only so she could grab some lettuce and snow) and Burrito was only out for a couple of minutes (also just to grab a little bit of lettuce and snow) and didn’t venture out very far, but everyone seemed very happy to have the option of the hill back! And that’s what sanctuary is all about.

Annie following Missy back to the greenhouse:
web Annie walk along log bridge snow YH IMG_2231

Enriching Jamie

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Recently I was looking back at some old blog posts written by Diana and J.B. before the chimpanzees arrived in Washington. In this post, Diana describes Jamie after meeting her for the first time during a visit to the laboratory. It struck me how accurate Diana’s first impressions turned out to be. Five years later, Jamie still demands our time, energy, and creativity to keep her satisfied. It is sometimes hard to know what she’s going to like, but choice is essential. Diana also correctly predicted that we’re always happy to indulge.

After we clean the playroom each morning, we put out clean blankets and a heaping basket of enrichment. Jamie’s routine is to first gather any boots, then stroll around checking out the rest of the toys to see if anything is of interest. Today she came across this loofah and gave her face a quick scrub.

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web Jamie quadrupedal rub face with loofah stairs playroom PR IMG_2166

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web Jamie quadrupedal hold boot loofah by stairs playroom PR IMG_2168

snow, snow, and more snow

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It’s a good thing the Cle Elum Seven like to eat snow so much, because we’ve got a lot of it!

We’ve been putting snow in the kiddie pool and other large tubs and containers on a pretty regular basis, and it keeps the chimps happy for hours. Today, I walked into the chimp area and found that Missy had grabbed a large handful and taken it upstairs to enjoy by the window.

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She may have been sitting in the sunshine, but with eating all that snow she was obviously still cold. She was shivering quite a bit and used this washcloth to dry her hands off.
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Jody was laying next to her in her nest. You can’t tell but she had a mouthful herself.
web Jody eat snow lay in nest window PR IMG_2081

Later, Missy went to enjoy some snow with her best friend Annie
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and while she was gone, Negra had taken over Missy’s pile of snow

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it wasn’t long before Missy joined her
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Jamie’s artistic side

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About a month ago we updated our Amazon wishlist and added bright colored pens for Jamie. Several people have sent some (thanks so much!!) and she has been so excited about them!! The other day, she was asking for a pen and I went and got her a couple of the colored ones and a canvas. She was literally jumping up and down when she saw what I had for her and drew a pretty elaborate drawing (albeit on the back of the canvas 🙂 ) She’s not always interested in drawing, though when she is, she’s very meticulous about it. Everything has to be in the right place – not just the lines she draws, but the paper and pens, as well.

Here’s a piece we recovered from the Playroom the other day. Like in the story above, I brought her a piece of canvas to draw on but she found what she thought was a much better medium for her masterpiece. It was a sign I had put on the enrichment to remind the morning crew to put all the troll dolls in piles.

web Jamie art trolls in piles pr IMG_1981

Thanks so much to all who have re-inspired Jamie’s artistic side!

Some good news + cute Foxie

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If you aren’t subscribed to the Take Action newsletter through Eyes on Apes, you may not have seen yet that we’ve had a victory! Two days ago I sent out an action alert regarding a Great Clips commercial with a chimpanzee, and just a day later Great Clips made a statement to pledge not to use apes in future advertising, and said they were working on pulling the ad. This is all thanks to letters from you guys, so congrats! Please forward this victory on to friends and get them to join you in speaking up for apes in need.

As if that good news wasn’t enough happiness for the day, I thought I’d share some pictures of Foxie eating some snow with juice added to it. She’s pretty cute. I think she can put a smile on anyone’s face.

web Foxie snow in mouth playroom PR IMG_1974

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Happy birthday, Lynn Williamson!

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Frank Williamson has sponsored today for Lynn’s birthday, with this message:

“Dear Lynnie, happy birthday and great work with the chimps and all the other animal causes you take so seriously!  Your family loves you!”

Lynn has been a volunteer in the chimp house for a few years now, and she is consistently lovely to be around.  She always shows up with a smile on her face, ready to work hard for the chimpanzees.  We’re so lucky to know her.  Happy birthday, Lynn!

web Annie platform snow YH IMG_0999